BAHAWALPUR, Aug 29: Work to lay a Rs 6.6 million astroturf at the Mutiullah Hockey Stadium has been completed.

During an inspection of the turf on Friday by DCO Mohammed Mushtaq Ahmed, President District Hockey Association and ex-national player Hidayatullah Khan informed him that the local stadium was the only one with an astroturf in South Punjab.

“The turf,” he said, “would promote the game as well as help train emerging young talent here.”

The DCO also announced the establishing of a hockey academy in the area. Besides that, he also hoped to build spectator stands at the stadium and want to organise international hockey events.

The stadium has been named after the local hockey Olympian Mutiullah, the uncle of hockey greats Samiullah and Kalimullah.